In 1861, Rev. Palmer, living at the time with his family in Macomb Co., Ill., (Source: 1861 special census of all able bodied men ages 18 - 45 which was conducted by the U.S. War Dept.) tried to enlist in the Illinois Infantry. With the Illinois ranks full, he, along with many from across the state of Illinois, decided to enlist in the Missouri Infantry. Rev. Palmer was mustered into the 10th Infantry as a Chaplain. The following is a record of the history and service of the 10th Missouri (US) Infantry. For more information on Rev. Palmer please click here.

Please note: As stated above, at the beginning of the Civil War many of Illinois' regiments became full with enlistees. Many of those wanting to enlist did so instead by traveling to the border state of Missouri and enlisted in that states' regiments. The State of Illinois Archives has a database of Illinois Civil War Veterans of Missouri Units that may be searched on-line. The database may be searched by Name of Veteran, Regiment, Company or Residence. The site is accessible by clicking here. You can also find out how to obtain copies of original Illinois Civil War records here as well.

History

Organized at St. Louis Mo., August 1861.

Assignments:

August 1861 to May 1862 - Dept. of Missouri to May, 1862.
to November 1862 - 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division,. Army of the Mississippi
to December, 1862 - 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee.
To January, 1863 - 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, 16th Army Corps
to September, 1863 - 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, 17th Army Corps
to December 1863 - 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 17th Army Corps
to October 1864 - 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps

Service:

Guarding Pacific Railroad till November 1861. Expedition through Jefferson County September 1-3. Fulton, Mo., October 28. At Hermann, Mo. December 1-23. Expedition through Warren. Callaway, Boone and Audrain Counties, December, 1861. At Warrenton, Mo. till February 1862. At High Bridge tilI April. At Cape Girardeau, Mo, till. April 30. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn; April 30. Coffey's Landing, Tenn., May 2. Siege of Corinth Miss., May 5-30. Action at Farmington May 9 (Reserve). Skirmish on Booneville Road May 29. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. At Corinth till August. At Jacinto till September 18. Batt1e Of Iuka September 19. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 1862 - January 1863. Escort train to Memphis, Tenn., December 20-30 1862. Guard duty on Memphis & Charleston Railroad at Germantown and near Memphis till March, 1863. Expedition to Yazoo Pass and operations against Fort Pemberton and Greenwood March 13 - April 5. Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., and duty there till April 25. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. (In support). Big Black River May 3. Battles of Raymond May 12, Jackson May 14. Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May I8 - July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4. Garrison duty at Vicksburg till September 12. At Helena, Ark., till October 1. Moved to Memphis, thence march to Chattanooga, Tenn., October 1 -November 22. Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Alabama October 20-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Tunnel Hill November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. At Bridgeport, Ala., till January 1, 1864. At Royd's Station and Brownsboro, Ala., along Memphis & Charleston Railroad till June 15. (Constructed bridge across Flint River at Brownsboro.) Moved to Kingston, Ga., via Huntsville and Stevenson, Ala., June 15-20. Moved to Resaca July 2, and duty there till August 17. (Cos, "I" and "K" till October,) Defence of Resaca October 12-13 (Cos. "I" and "K"), Companies "A," "B," "C," 'D," "E," ,'F" and "G' left for muster out August 17, and mustered out August 24, 1864. Company "H" attached to Company "E," 24th Missouri Infantry. Companies "I" and "K" mustered out October 31, 1864. Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 98 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 228 Enlisted men by disease. Total 331.

Source: Dyer's Compendium, Military History Institute, Documents page